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Yankees name Kevin Lawn awards

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Press Release |

The New York Yankees today announced that outfielder Tyler Austin and right-handed pitcher Mark Montgomery were named winners of the Yankees' 2012 Kevin Lawn Award as the Yankees' minor league "Player of the Year" and "Pitcher of the Year," respectively. The two players will receive their awards prior to today's Yankees-Marlins game at George M. Steinbrenner Field, scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m.

The annual awards are dedicated to Kevin O'Brien Lawn - the son of longtime Yankees Vice President and Chief of Operations Jack Lawn - who passed away in 1999.

Austin, 21, combined to hit .322 with 35 doubles, six triples, 17 home runs and 80 RBI in 110 combined games with the GCL Yankees, Single-A Charleston, Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He led all Yankees minor league hitters in batting average for the second consecutive season, ranked third in RBI and fourth in stolen bases (23). The Georgia-native was named a South Atlantic League All-Star after batting .320 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs, 54 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 70 games while with the RiverDogs. Following the season, Baseball America tabbed him as the fourth-best prospect in the Yankees organization.

Montgomery, 22, split the season with Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton, combining to go 7-2 with 15 saves and a 1.54 ERA (64.1IP, 11ER) in 46 relief appearances, leading all Yankees farmhands in saves. He played in five postseason games with the Thunder and did not allow a run in 6.0 innings out of the bullpen, striking out 11 batters. Following the season, Montgomery made nine relief appearances with the Scottsdale Scorpions, of the Arizona Fall League, and struck out 19 batters in 10.1 innings of relief (0-0, 2.61 ERA, 1 save). His .143 batting average against marked the fourth-lowest among all AFL relievers.

Each player will be presented with a trophy designed by C & C Awards, as well as a designer watch, courtesy of Manfredi Jewels.